Imagine having endless closet space (big sigh, especially if you live in a Manhattan apartment)- well now you can with Garde Robe luxury wardrobe storage and valet service. Now that’s living the high life. Denim Therapy had the opportunity to get a closer look into the Garde Robe lifestyle closets and ask them a few questions.

Denim Therapy: How do you recommend storing denim (do you fold them, hang them up on hangers—which kind?

Garde Robe: Denim is functional in storage, just like in wear. We leave an impression on our denim. A personal tread is uniquely contoured on denim given the elements you afford it and the frequency in which you wear it. So for storage, you have to consider how often you both wear and wash your jeans. Separate the everyday jeans from the nicer, occasional jeans. Everyday jeans are likely washed more frequently, therefore the shrink and fade are expected, unlike what you’d want from your usually more expensive, occasionally worn jeans. If you like the washed denim look of whiskers and honeycomb, then creases and fades shouldn’t be a bother, just fold your jeans. Lay them flat and face up, fold long with rear pockets facing, take them and fold to meet over top of pocket, fold remaining waistband towards self, and last, fold once more to cover waistband. Stack.

Denim is an American standard, and jeans have become acceptable in many professional work environments. Therefore, you probably have those solid color jeans you’d like to keep from wrinkle or fade, jeans you can wear to work or dinner with a sharp jacket or nice shoes. Keep these less worn, nicer jeans on a skirt/pant hanger with clips in your closet. It’s best to use a hanger with non abrasive clips, without sharp teeth. The clasp should have a smooth, rounded edge, or simply use foam padding for cushioning. Hang your jeans free and open from the waistband, never from the leg hem, as this creates a bottom heavy hang, which creates stress on the denim. Remember; never fold your nice jeans over a hanger bar, as it will undoubtedly create unwanted fade lines and creases.

Today, a trend, believe it or not, must also be considered for denim storage. Dry, pre wash cotton denim is fast becoming the new fad. Better known as raw denim, these untreated jeans require a specialist’s cleaning, unless you intend to shrink and fade the denim yourself. Many boutique denim dealers will recommend you not wash raw denim for months, to better outline the wear you provide them. The idea is for the denim to map your figure, and give it an identity of your own. In fact, they’ll jokingly recommend your floor as the best place to store them. I say keep raw denim how you like, that’s the fun of it.

DT: On average how many articles of denim do your clients have?

GR: Garde Robe clients keep a dozen or so pair of jeans with us through each season, often the heavy denim during the Spring/Summer season, and the lighter denim during the Fall/Winter season. Denim skirts don’t seem to be a popular trend right now, but you can find a short skirt or two in a Spring/Summer season. Though, denim trends constantly change in the fashion world. A staple you can find in almost any closet is a light denim jacket.

DT: What kind of brands of jeans do you see in their closet?

GR: The new Decades Denim line by Cameron Silver is all the rage. (You can read our Decades Denim review as well as our exclusive interview with Decades Denim to get a better insight). Men & women Garde Robe clients alike wear a variety of the staple jean brands, such as Levis, Gap, or Lucky. The more fashion-forward type client tends to wear brands such as Earnest Sewn, J Brand, Genetic, or 7 For All Mankind. For women clients, I’d say Ralph Lauren or Armani is most the most abundant jean brand found in a Garde Robe closet. For men, I’d say the classic Levi’s brand.

DT: How do you take care of their jeans as far as cleaning (detergent brands, dry cleaning methods) and/or repair?

GR: We’ve all had the experience of a pair of jeans bleeding or shrinking in wash. It’s important like any garment, to read and follow the care instructions for each and every pair of denim jeans we own. Follow the instructions carefully to keep them looking bright and new, or break all the rules and create the denim you want. I’d always recommend washing denim by hand, if not professionally. If you do machine wash your jeans, I’d recommend separating and washing your jeans individually in a cold wash to prevent bleeding & shrinking. Wash inside out with all buttons or zippers unfastened. Use a half-sized amount of color guard detergent of your preference. Wash on a gentle or hand dry cycle. When done, tumble dry on a low heat, never high. Remove from dryer when still damp to touch. Dry flat.
DT: When your clients travel how do you pack their jeans?

GR: We either fold them as described in question one. If they request a wardrobe box, we’ll hang them as described in question one.
DT: Is there any specific season to wear denim or do you feel it’s all year round? Or perhaps certain denim for certain seasons (you can elaborate)?

GR: Denim originally was used as a utility fabric, for blue-collar workers due to durability. It wasn’t until the 50′s that denim became a fashionable fabric amongst the teenagers. Rock ‘n’ roll’s rise was parallel in its popularity. Today, denim is popular with all ages throughout the world. It isn’t exclusively casual. To learn more about Garde Robe please visit their website here. And let’s see if you can manage to DIY the next time you feel like doing some spring cleaning!